Following incidents of students deserting hostels due to 'poor quality' of food, hostels run by the SC/ST Development department in Odisha's Kandhamal district will have a chart of the food items that will be served to the students on different days.
The administration took the decision to curb frequent incidents of students running away from hostels for alleged poor quality of food served in residential schools.
"We have asked headmasters and hostel superintendents to start following such diet charts in the hostels," said Kandhamal district Collector Yamini Sarangi.
The district has 215 government-run hostels in which around 25,000 students are lodged. On Tuesday, the district Collector reviewed the problems being faced in the government run hostels.
"If there is any deviation from the displayed food menu, students can lodge their complaints with the headmaster or block welfare officer," said District Welfare Officer Ganeswar Bharinal.
The administration would take step against the erring persons, he said.
Bharinal said the district administration provides non-vegetarian food like egg and chicken to the inmates twice a week on Tuesday and Sunday, he said.
Sarangi also stressed on maintenance of sanitation, water supply in hostels and personal hygiene of the hostel inmates. During review she found that toilets were not functioning due to lack of water supply in at least nine hostels meant for girls.
"We have asked the Integrated Tribal Development Agency to ensure water in the hostels and to draw it through pipes from nearby sources. The work should be completed within a month," the Collector said.
